Teratogens

what is thalidomide originally used for?

it was originally intended as a tranquilizer or sleep inducer

what was thalidomide used for later?

conditions such as nausea, cold, flu, morning sickness in pregnant women

thalidomide creates a major birth defect called what?

phocomelia, shortened or lost arms and legs

increased oxidative stress in phocomelia results in what?

shortened limbs

what are the four clinical features used to make a diagnosis of FAS?

facial characteristics, growth deficiency, CNS dysfunction, maternal alcohol use

alcohol exposed children have a difference in what feature of the brain?

reduction in the brain size and white matter

what does alcohol increase in the brain?

oxidative stress and cell death

does alcohol induce loss of cell adhesion if so what does this result in?

yes, this leads to reduced proliferation and survival of neural stem cells

what was DES (an antagonist) used for back then?

it was used for pregnant women to prevent miscarriages

what is DES now considered as through the FDA?

a carcinogen

a synthetic building block of polycarbonate plastics for food and beverage storage as well as ink for receipts is what?

Bisphenol A (BPA) which is an antagonist

DDT and DDE are both antagonists that disrupt what?

endocrine systems

PCB blocks what?

thyroid system functions

reduced fertility, longer time to conception, higher miscarriage rates, decreased sperm motility, early puberty are a result of what

endocrine disruptors

which of the following is least likely associated with orgnanophosphorus insecticide chloropyrofos

About 50% of the insecticides used in the world

Disruption of the growth factor receptor pathway

Defects in neural tube formation and neuronal differentiation

Disruption of oxytocin and vasopressin systems

Abnormal GABA and somatostatin functions

Abnormal maternal behavior

disruption of the growth factor receptor pathway and abnormal GABA and somatostatin functions